Neurogenic Bladder

Comfort Zone…..what’s THAT? This is a jokeful statement to mean that after all the medical tests and procedures, CT Scans, MRI’s, and Surgeries, nothing can prepare you for this one!

For someone without a medical background or an interest in medical technology and developments, stored in their long term functional memories this could possibly be a horrific and frightening ordeal. As a person with a very lengthy background in the medical community as a healthcare provider for over 20 years I had never heard of this….technology and the development of the practice of medicine never ceases to amaze me.

It is odd to be the patient and yet I am equally fascinated and intrigued by such an invasive and personal procedure as to want to know all about it. However, despite this intrigue, this was a very emotionally uncomfortable test that really makes one feel vulnerable. The actual procedure was not painful because I had an AMAZING gal I was working with for my testing who explained EVERYTHING, went very slow, and commmunicated consistently. The doctor I dealt with was very informative, knowledgeable and actually got her report of my history entirely correct. I cannot remember the last time this has happened.

Essentially that urge most people get to go to the bathroom apparently is transmitted to the spinal cord and then to one of the 21 known receptors in the brain which helps us know “when to go” or not. Well with me, I have Neurogenic Bladder.

If you don’t know what that means, it essentially means that my brain isn’t getting the mesage. A Neurogenic Bladder is any type of bladder or lower urinary tract dysfunction related specifically to a neurologic disease. Neurogenic Bladder is found with those who have Brain Injuries, Spinal cord injuries, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis if accompanied with incontinence of BM also, is often seen in those who are paraplegic. I do not test postitive for MS/MD or BM incontinence….these are good things. I was just diagnosed with this in Jan 2015 (one year later after the wreck). I have spent this whole time absorbing what that means to me (no pun intended with the absorbing part), or could mean to me in the future.

I have learned a lot and wonder why this has never been addressed in me before now. For the purposes of this post I am endeavoring to keep this post clinical and educational as opposed to emotionally laiden with shoulda coulda would’ves……

The machines they use are so sensistive that it detects the smallest vibration and spasms, so there is no way to “fake it” or make your body act a certai way and I love that specifically about this test because it is so specifically oriented. I also learned that I wasn’t as aware that I had lost as much function as I had that has been attributed to a brain or spinal cord injury. My brain I have determined, aside from my soul and spiritual base, is my most valued commodity for myself.